# Most Affordable Online Master's in Data Science

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-06-12 | Schools: 50 | Category: Online Masters
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-online-masters-data-science

## Methodology

Most affordable online master's in Data Science ranked by net price and program quality

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Many students today are considering online master's programs in data science for their flexibility and potential return on investment. With the average earnings for graduates from these programs around $59,987, it's clear that a well-chosen program can lead to substantial financial benefits.

The schools on this list stand out due to their net price, graduation rates, and post-graduation earnings. When evaluating these programs, keep an eye on how much debt you might incur and the completion rates, as these factors play a critical role in long-term success. The data below highlights schools that balance affordability with solid outcomes.

Take the University of Florida-Online, for example. With a net price of just $4,815 and earnings of $71,588, it's a strong contender. In contrast, Western Governors University has a higher net price of $12,548 and lower earnings at $60,615. This contrast illustrates the trade-offs between cost and potential return that students must navigate.

## Key Findings

- University of Florida-Online has the lowest net price at $4,815 paired with the highest earnings of $71,588.
- Western Governors University has a graduation rate of only 48%, which is below the average of 36%.
- University of Arkansas Grantham has the highest debt at $21,956 despite a lower earnings potential of $63,496.
- The average earnings across these programs is $59,987, but individual outcomes vary significantly.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of Florida-Online](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida-online) | Gainesville, FL | 81% | $71,588 | $4,815 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 2 | [Western Governors University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-governors-university) | Salt Lake City, UT | 48% | $60,615 | $12,548 | $11,116 | 0.18x |
| 3 | [Purdue University Global](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/purdue-university-global) | West Lafayette, IN | 49% | $36,596 | $7,770 | $26,078 | 0.71x |
| 4 | [University of Arkansas Grantham](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-grantham) | LIttle Rock, AR | 32% | $63,496 | $8,370 | $21,956 | 0.35x |
| 5 | [Bellevue University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bellevue-university) | Bellevue, NE | 39% | $61,289 | $17,550 | $20,000 | 0.33x |
| 6 | [University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-new-hampshire-college-of-professional-studies-online) | Manchester, NH | 22% | $66,479 | $10,864 | $26,814 | 0.4x |
| 7 | [Louisiana State University-Shreveport](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/louisiana-state-university-shreveport) | Shreveport, LA | 35% | $47,477 | $7,022 | $22,500 | 0.47x |
| 8 | [Pennsylvania State University-World Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-world-campus) | University Park, PA | 34% | $63,435 | $19,550 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 9 | [College of Micronesia-FSM](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-micronesia-fsm) | Pohnpei, FM | 32% | $24,651 | $6,789 | N/A | N/A |
| 10 | [Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeastern-oklahoma-state-university) | Durant, OK | 32% | $45,079 | $8,039 | $17,000 | 0.38x |
| 11 | [Belhaven University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/belhaven-university) | Jackson, MS | 50% | $46,440 | $15,676 | $26,333 | 0.57x |
| 12 | [Bryant & Stratton College-Online](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bryant-stratton-college-online) | Orchard Park, NY | 21% | $32,568 | $15,187 | $21,549 | 0.66x |
| 13 | [Franklin University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/franklin-university) | Columbus, OH | 21% | $51,892 | $25,243 | $20,836 | 0.4x |
| 14 | [Salish Kootenai College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/salish-kootenai-college) | Pablo, MT | 32% | $32,725 | $7,945 | $12,923 | 0.39x |
| 15 | [University of Maryland Global Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maryland-global-campus) | Adelphi, MD | 31% | $65,287 | $22,063 | $21,000 | 0.32x |
| 16 | [Lamar University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lamar-university) | Beaumont, TX | 37% | $49,652 | $9,366 | $21,250 | 0.43x |
| 17 | [Kent State University at East Liverpool](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kent-state-university-at-east-liverpool) | East Liverpool, OH | 17% | $45,388 | $13,392 | $24,500 | 0.54x |
| 18 | [Herzing University-Madison](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/herzing-university-madison) | Madison, WI | 28% | $36,909 | $22,327 | $21,500 | 0.58x |
| 19 | [Great Basin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/great-basin-college) | Elko, NV | 46% | $39,289 | $8,471 | $15,750 | 0.4x |
| 20 | [Kent State University at Trumbull](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kent-state-university-at-trumbull) | Warren, OH | 30% | $45,388 | $11,135 | $24,500 | 0.54x |
| 21 | [National University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/national-university) | San Diego, CA | 42% | $67,548 | $22,878 | $25,000 | 0.37x |
| 22 | [Upper Iowa University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/upper-iowa-university) | Fayette, IA | 38% | $52,766 | $20,942 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 23 | [Mid-America Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mid-america-christian-university) | Oklahoma City, OK | 40% | $46,116 | $16,692 | $26,394 | 0.57x |
| 24 | [Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-new-mexico-university-main-campus) | Portales, NM | 42% | $38,550 | $4,904 | $16,500 | 0.43x |
| 25 | [University of Cincinnati-Clermont College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-cincinnati-clermont-college) | Batavia, OH | 24% | $54,810 | $13,803 | $21,250 | 0.39x |
| 26 | [Saint Leo University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-leo-university) | Saint Leo, FL | 47% | $48,364 | $21,293 | $25,278 | 0.52x |
| 27 | [Southern New Hampshire University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-new-hampshire-university) | Manchester, NH | 44% | $50,318 | $36,708 | $21,082 | 0.42x |
| 28 | [Baker College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/baker-college) | Owosso, MI | 33% | $35,833 | $13,157 | $25,000 | 0.7x |
| 29 | [Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-institute-of-technology-college-of-professional-studies) | Fort Wayne, IN | 28% | $47,327 | $20,473 | $26,391 | 0.56x |
| 30 | [Brigham Young University-Idaho](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brigham-young-university-idaho) | Rexburg, ID | 55% | $53,406 | $8,221 | $13,969 | 0.26x |
| 31 | [Ensign College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ensign-college) | Salt Lake City, UT | 38% | $50,630 | $10,824 | N/A | N/A |
| 32 | [Liberty University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/liberty-university) | Lynchburg, VA | 64% | $44,813 | $29,357 | $24,500 | 0.55x |
| 33 | [West Los Angeles College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/west-los-angeles-college) | Culver City, CA | 24% | $38,537 | $9,634 | $13,500 | 0.35x |
| 34 | [Maryville University of Saint Louis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maryville-university-of-saint-louis) | Saint Louis, MO | 69% | $62,105 | $22,066 | $22,000 | 0.35x |
| 35 | [Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-wesleyan-university-national-global) | Marion, IN | 36% | $59,986 | $16,898 | $24,250 | 0.4x |
| 36 | [Kent State University at Ashtabula](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kent-state-university-at-ashtabula) | Ashtabula, OH | 25% | $45,388 | $12,205 | $24,500 | 0.54x |
| 37 | [Buena Vista University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/buena-vista-university) | Storm Lake, IA | 54% | $49,156 | $18,846 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 38 | [Wilmington University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wilmington-university) | New Castle, DE | 21% | $53,844 | $15,644 | $20,000 | 0.37x |
| 39 | [Capitol Technology University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/capitol-technology-university) | Laurel, MD | 44% | $85,035 | $22,102 | $20,264 | 0.24x |
| 40 | [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus) | Atlanta, GA | 93% | $102,772 | $12,116 | $21,672 | 0.21x |
| 41 | [Atlanta Metropolitan State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/atlanta-metropolitan-state-college) | Atlanta, GA | 16% | $33,252 | $5,258 | $14,123 | 0.42x |
| 42 | [Dakota State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dakota-state-university) | Madison, SD | 50% | $50,970 | $21,057 | $23,500 | 0.46x |
| 43 | [Livingstone College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/livingstone-college) | Salisbury, NC | 26% | $32,600 | $13,479 | $31,125 | 0.95x |
| 44 | [Indiana University-East](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-east) | Richmond, IN | 42% | $47,156 | $8,134 | $18,000 | 0.38x |
| 45 | [SUNY College of Technology at Canton](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-college-of-technology-at-canton) | Canton, NY | 41% | $47,860 | $15,268 | $20,000 | 0.42x |
| 46 | [Virginia Union University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-union-university) | Richmond, VA | 39% | $38,275 | $13,235 | $29,000 | 0.76x |
| 47 | [Arkansas State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-state-university) | Jonesboro, AR | 55% | $42,617 | $12,366 | $20,500 | 0.48x |
| 48 | [University of West Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-florida) | Pensacola, FL | 60% | $49,137 | $9,364 | $16,624 | 0.34x |
| 49 | [McMurry University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mcmurry-university) | Abilene, TX | 41% | $48,779 | $19,581 | $27,000 | 0.55x |
| 50 | [Kent State University at Geauga](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kent-state-university-at-geauga) | Burton, OH | 23% | $45,388 | $12,044 | $24,500 | 0.54x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Online Master's in Data Science." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-06-12. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-online-masters-data-science

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.